This book provides a cutting-edge scientific overview of Chinese liquor, also known as Baijiu. Chinese liquor is one of the world’s most ancient fermented alcoholic beverages. Fermented foods and beverages are consumed worldwide as an indispensable constituent in our daily life. However, most fermented foods rely on traditional techniques with limited known scientific knowledge. These indigenous processes are typically empirical without scientifically-based control and technological insights. The book analyses Chinese liquor processing on the three most important disciplines of fermented foods: process technology/engineering, flavor chemistry, and microbiology. It also addresses the perspectives and future research needs associated with spontaneous fermented foods. This book offers a deep understanding of the science of Chinese liquor production to students, researchers, and related practitioners both in the academic and the industry. It would also benefit many other fields of fermented foods for their optimization, standardization, and modernization.

Although one of the oldest microbial technologies used in food processing, solid-state fermentation (SSF) had, until recently, fallen out of favor. However, based on a series of established mathematical models, new design concepts for SSF bioreactors and process control strategies have been proposed, allowing SSF technology to reach new levels. Sol

“Modern Solid State Fermentation: Theory and Practice” covers state-of-the-art studies in the field of solid state fermentation (SSF). In terms of different characteristics of microbial metabolites, this book catalogs SSF into two main parts: anaerobic and aerobic SSF. Based on the principles of porous media and strategies of process control and scale-up, which are introduced in the book, it not only presents a well-founded explanation of essence of solid state fermentation, but also their influence on microbial physiology. In addition, due to the rapid development of this field in recent years, inert support solid state fermentation is also examined in detail. At last, the modern solid state fermentation technology platform is proposed, which will be used in solid biomass bioconversion. This book is intended for biochemists, biotechnologists and process engineers, as well as researchers interested in SSF. Dr. Hongzhang Chen is a Professor at Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.

2020 Gourmand Award in Spirits Gold Medal winner in the Independent Book Publishers Awards China is one of the world's leading producers and consumers of liquor, with alcohol infusing all aspects of its culture, from religion and literature to business and warfare. Yet to the outside world, China's most famous spirit, baijiu, remains a mystery. This is about to change, as baijiu is now being served in cocktail bars beyond its borders. Drunk in China follows Derek Sandhaus's journey of discovery into the world's oldest drinking culture. He travels throughout the country and around the globe to meet with distillers, brewers, snake-oil salesmen, archaeologists, and ordinary drinkers. He examines the many ways in which alcohol has shaped Chinese society and its rituals. He visits production floors, karaoke parlors, hotpot joints, and speakeasies. Along the way he uncovers a tradition spanning more than nine thousand years and explores how recent economic and political developments have conspired to push Chinese alcohol beyond the nation's borders for the first time. As Chinese society becomes increasingly international, its drinking culture must also adapt to the times. Can the West also adapt and clink glasses with China? Read Drunk in China and find out.